Monday July 18 Crop Progress & Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending July 17, 2016, temperatures averaged one to three degrees below normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was minimal across the Panhandle and southwest. Parts of central and eastern Nebraska received an inch or more of rain. Winter wheat harvested was near completion in the southwest with most of the remaining unharvested acres in the Panhandle. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 22 short, 70 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 19 short, 75 adequate, and 2 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 16 fair, 62 good, and 18 excellent. Corn silking was 55 percent, near 51 last year, and ahead of the five-year average of 48.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 18 fair, 68 good, and 14 excellent. Sorghum headed was 7 percent, behind 15 last year, and near 8 average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 62 good, and 15 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 54 percent, near 56 both last year and average. Setting pods were 1 percent, behind 13 of both last year and average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 24 fair, 51 good, and 14 excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 75 percent, well ahead of 52 both last year and average.

Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 64 good, and 8 excellent. Oats coloring was 93 percent, near 91 last year. Harvested was 49 percent, well ahead of 25 last year, and ahead of 43 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 13 fair, 65 good, and 16 excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 80 percent, ahead of 61 last year and 67 average. Third cutting was 7 percent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 2 poor, 19 fair, 64 good, and 13 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 6 short, 91 adequate, and 3 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Timely rains this week were beneficial to crops. Statewide there were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 17, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, there were isolated reports of damage to crops and buildings caused by high winds and hail. Activities for the week included cutting hay and applying fungicide to corn.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

Sixty-seven percent of the corn crop had reached the silking stage, five days ahead of last year and a week ahead of average. Across the State there were scattered reports of corn reaching the dough stage. Corn condition improved slightly to 81 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 66 percent and soybean setting pods reached 20 percent. Both of these soybean stages were 4 days ahead of 2015 and 5 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition rated 80 percent good to excellent this week. Oat acreage turning color or beyond reached 91 percent, with 35 percent of the oat crop harvested for grain or seed, 4 days ahead of last year. Oat crop condition rated 79 percent good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 79 percent, 10 days ahead of normal. The third cutting of alfalfa hay became more widespread this week. Hay condition was rated at 74 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 61 percent good to excellent. Livestock saw some stress due to heat and humidity as well as overgrazed pastures in some parts of the State.



IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry J. Hillaker, State Climatologist
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

The past reporting week began with very warm and humid conditions and widespread rain fall. Monday (11th) was the warmest day of the reporting week with daytime high temperatures in the upper eighties to mid-nineties. Thunderstorms were widespread from Monday (11th) evening through Tuesday (12th) morning with heaviest rainfall in the southwest where one to two inch amounts common. Thunderstorms were again widespread on Wednesday as a cold front moved across the state. The greatest rainfall on Wednesday was from Des Moines eastward along the I-80 corridor with amounts around an inch. Mostly dry weather, with much lower temperatures and humidity, prevailed from Thursday through Saturday (16th). Finally, much higher humidity moved back into Iowa Saturday night and Sunday (17th) with the moisture surge bringing rain statewide early Sunday (17th) morning with two to three inch rain totals common from the Iowa Great Lakes region eastward to the Mason City and Decorah areas. Rain totals for the week varied from only 0.10 inches at Rock Rapids to 4.38 inches near Storm Lake and 4.28 inches at Lake Mills. The statewide average precipitation was 1.65 inches or well above the weekly normal of 1.05 inches. Temperature extremes ranged from a Monday (11th) afternoon high of 94 degrees at Des Moines to a Saturday (16th) morning low of 49 degrees at Elkader. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 1.1 degrees below normal. Finally, each of the rain events this week brought severe weather to the state as well. Monday (11th) evening and night saw numerous reports of high winds, especially over west central Iowa. Wednesday (13th) saw several reports of large hail in northwestern and west central Iowa and numerous high wind reports along and near I-80 in central and east central Iowa. Finally, the most damaging weather of the week came with a derecho which entered the northwest corner of Iowa about 1 a.m. Sunday (17th) and finally exited the state in the Quad Cities area about five and one-half hours later.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean progress and condition ratings continued to run well ahead of last year and the five-year average during the week ended July 17, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday

Corn silking was 10 percentage points ahead of average at 56%, compared to 32% last week, 47% last year and a 46% average. Corn condition held steady compared to last week at 76% good to excellent. Last year 69% of the crop was rated good to excellent.

Fifty-nine of the nation's soybeans were blooming, compared to 40% last week, 51% last year and a 49% five-year average. Setting pods was reported at 18%, compared to 7% last week, 14% last year and a 13% five-year average. Soybean conditions worsened slightly to 7% poor to very poor, compared to 6% last week.  USDA said 71% of soybeans were rated good-to-excellent. 

Winter wheat was 76% harvested as of Sunday, compared to 66% last week, 72% last year and a 73% average. 

Spring wheat was 96% headed, compared to 91% last week, 95% last year and an 81% average. Spring wheat condition decreased to 69% good to excellent, compared to 70% last week.  Sixty-nine percent of spring wheat was rated good to excellent.

Cotton squaring was at 77%, compared to 57% last week, 72% last year and a 76% average. Setting bolls was reported at 28%, compared to 19% last week, 29% last year and a 30% average. Cotton condition improved slightly.

Rice was 41% headed, compared to 28% last week, 37% last year and a 30% average. Rice condition held steady at 68% good to excellent.

Sorghum was 39% headed, compared to 31% last week, 32% last year and 33% on average. Coloring was reported at 19%, compared to 16% last week, 19% last year and a 23% average. Sorghum condition worsened slightly to 68% good to excellent compared to 69% last week.

Oats were 22% harvested, compared to 13% last week, 15% last year and 20% average. Oats condition fell slightly to 66% good to excellent, compared to 67% last week.

Barley was 95% headed, compared to 89% last week, 99% last year and an 86% average. Barley condition decreased slightly to 73% good to excellent from 74% last week.



A Bipartisan Biotech Compromise
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

For Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers, the day usually begins early. Long before others are even awake, they are at work in the fields and pastures.

Contrary to John Denver’s charming song, life on a farm or ranch is not "kind of laid back." It is hard work with a heavy responsibility to feed the world. With more than nine billion people expected on our planet by 2050, our agriculture producers have a tall order.

But a Vermont state law attempted to impose burdens upon our ag community and their ability to feed this growing population. Passed by state legislators in Vermont in 2014, the law required any company selling food in Vermont to label those products that contain biotechnology.

This law became a national standard by default. The requirements are too complicated and costly for companies to re-label all of their products separately for just one state. Without a uniform definition, the most complex requirement became, overnight, the new law of the land.

Suddenly, agriculture producers and food manufacturers across America could not use biotechnology without fear of punishment. They faced a terrible choice: either provide misleading labels that villainized their products or pay crushing fines for not complying.

Attacks on biotechnology are the result of misinformation and flawed science. The world’s leading scientists have come together to push back. In a letter submitted last month, over 100 Nobel Prize laureates affirmed the benefits and safety of biotechnology. They wrote, “scientific and regulatory agencies around the world have repeatedly and consistently found crops and foods improved through biotechnology to be as safe as, if not safer than, those derived from any other method of production.”

The Vermont labeling law went into effect on July 1, but Congress worked together on a bipartisan compromise to replace it. I supported this compromise in the Senate. Soon after, it passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin.

The agreement was the product of bipartisan compromise between Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. It requires the Department of Agriculture to set a national standard for foods using biotechnology. But it also provides food manufacturers with much-needed flexibility when it comes to how their products are labeled. The bill allows them to meet these requirements with three different options: through text on a package, a symbol, or even an electronic link. Especially helpful, this compromise exempts livestock and most meat products.

Like many of my neighbors, our family has ranched for generations. When considering the Senate compromise, I spoke with my neighbors and friends, as well as ag producers across Nebraska. They all agreed it would reduce the unnecessary harm that would result from the Vermont law. And, in good Nebraskan fashion, they gave me their reasons.

First, the compromise recognizes the scientific consensus that biotechnology is safe. Second, it lets consumers know what is in their food. Third, it gives producers the certainty they need to carry on their mission of providing safe, high-quality, and affordable food to hungry people worldwide.

I would like to suggest one more reason. We live in a big country. We deal in interstate commerce. And as we move products across the nation, we need one standard for the entire country. That's what this bill will create.

It has the support of Nebraska’s producers, including the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and the Western Sugar Cooperative.

The bill now heads to the president’s desk for his signature. I am hopeful he will sign it into law soon.

We all want safe food. This bipartisan agreement protects our ag community from a patchwork of state-by-state biotech labeling laws and the uncertainty that would come with it. By taking action, we are ensuring Nebraska families can continue to feed the world.



 August Farm Finance & Ag Law Clinics July 15, 2016

Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential farm finance and ag law consultations being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Sites and Dates
    Fairbury — Wednesday, August 3
    Grand Island — Thursday, August 4
    Norfolk — Tuesday, August 9
    North Platte — Thursday, August 11
    Lexington — Thursday, August 18

To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.



Farm Bureau Boot Camp Grads Hone Communication Skills

The American Farm Bureau Federation recognized 14 farm and ranch women leaders as graduates of the organization's tenth annual Women's Communications Boot Camp. The group of agricultural leaders was recognized after completing an intensive three-day course featuring sessions on working with the media, public speaking, testifying and messaging.

"It's a pleasure to see people who come in hungry for knowledge, hungry to do more and educate more for the future of agriculture," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. "This organization grows and prospers because of its grassroots. Offering programs such as Women's Communications Boot Camp helps us create more advocates for Farm Bureau and agriculture."

Isabella Chism, an Indiana farmer and vice chair of the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, noted, "Through this training, we provide tools to help the participants become stronger leaders and communicators who are confident about sharing messages about agriculture."

This year's Boot Camp graduates are: Margo Sue Bittner, New York; Danielle Daum, Florida; Michelle Pace Davis, North Carolina; Lindsay Elliot, Tennessee; Sharon Furches, Kentucky; Deb Gangwish, Nebraska; Lexy Goyer, Kansas; Danielle Grant, West Virginia; Margo Lee Huggins, North Carolina; Faye Hundley, Virginia; Amy Johnson, Virginia; Jenny Osguthorpe, Utah; Lacey Sproul, Nevada; and Whitney Tilley, Tennessee.

The American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for Women's Communications Boot Camp. This is the tenth year of the program, which has more than 150 graduates and is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau. An application process is used to select the participants.



Iowa Soybean Association sponsors new events, long-time favorites at state fair

The Iowa State Fair is right around the corner and the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) will ensure fairgoers have fun while learning about agriculture and the role soybean farmers play in helping feed and fuel Iowa, the nation and the world.

The association, based in Ankeny and committed to improving the competitiveness of Iowa’s 37,000 soybean farmers, is partnering with the fair and other organizations to bring some old favorites and a few new events to the list of must-see stops:

    Park it in the Ag Park — Visitors looking for a place to relax at the fair can visit the new Ag Park in the Agricutlure Building. The Ag Park will feature conservation practices Iowa farmers are using to clean Iowa’s water and protect Iowa’s soil. Additionally, an artist will craft a mural reflecting the beauty of Iowa agriculture and agriculture’s commitment to conservation and water quality. ISA representatives will be on hand Aug. 11 and 18 to visit with fair-goers about the soybean industry and conservation practices Iowa soybean farmers are using.

    Take a free tram ride with biodiesel — It’s easy, safe and free for fairgoers to get from one end of the grounds to the other thanks to the ISA sponsorship of not only the tram tractors and carts, but also the biodiesel that fuels this popular transportation.

    Recognizing conservation leaders — Iowa soybean farmers excelling in environmental stewardship will be recognized for their voluntary efforts on Aug. 17 at the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award ceremony to be held at the Penningroth Center beginning at 9 a.m.

    Ag magic at your fingertips — Spectators will delight at Rhonda Renee’s Thank A Farmer show featuring storytelling, juggling and music. Renee’s performance illustrates that nearly everything we touch, consume and wear has a direct connection to agriculture and a farmer. Thirty-minute shows will be held each day in the Christensen Farms Animal Learning Center at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Also in the Animal Learning Center, visitors can see livestock that eat Iowa grown soybeans and check out the 'Soy-House' to learn more about all the household products made from soy.

    Planting seeds — Fun for children of all ages, Little Hands on the Farm — located just north of the Animal Learning Center — is a place for children to learn how food is grown by participating in a variety of hands-on activities. They also can package soybeans to help feed Iowa’s pork and poultry industries.

    Soy Inspired —The Soyfoods Council will present two chances to experience soyfoods at the fair on Aug. 15. The annual Soy Salad Dressing Professional Chef Contest will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the Ag Building — stop by to test the chefs’ creations! The second event is a cooking demonstration and soyfoods contest judging at 2 p.m. in the Elwell Building.

    “Vote Farmer!” with the Iowa Food & Family Project — ISA is partnering with the Iowa Food & Family Project to feed people’s curiosity about how food is grown by encouraging them to “vote” for the dedicated farmers who grow it. The must-see exhibit is open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily in the southeast atrium of the Varied Industries Building and will feature a must-see sculpture created from more than 50 tons of sand. Enter to win $500 in farm-fresh meat, $500 in Hy-Vee groceries and Casey’s pizza for a year.



Cattle Industry Meeting Wraps Up with Policy Priorities
 
Over 700 cattlemen and women attended the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Denver, Colo., this week to discuss the policy priorities for the cattle industry.

“It was a great week in Denver for the cattle industry,” said Tracy Brunner, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president. “This week showcased how the industry comes together to tackle critical issues like market volatility, expanding international markets, and the increasing federal regulations we see out of Washington, D.C.”

International trade remains a top priority for the cattle industry, including the necessary passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“Trade is a critical component of the cattle industry’s profitability, and expanding exports through current and future trade agreements like TPP hold tremendous potential for our producers,” said Brunner. “TPP will immediately reduce tariffs and level the playing field for U.S. beef exports to these growing markets. TPP is a major win not only for the beef industry, but for all U.S. export products, growing the economy while supporting jobs and investments in agriculture and technology.”

As market volatility continues to threaten the effectiveness of the futures markets, NCBA is committed to working directly with the CME group to find a solution.

“Market volatility, driven by high frequency trading, has been a major concern for producers across the country,” said Brunner. “The NCBA CME working group had the opportunity to meet in person this week to discuss these issues. While discussions continue, I am confident that through working with CME, we can resolve these issues to ensure the futures market is a viable tool for risk management.”

NCBA also continues to work with state and federal governments to ensure multiple use on public grazing lands. Ranchers are closest to the land and the best stewards of our natural resources, ensuring productive use, maintaining open space, and mitigating fire hazards. NCBA will continue to ensure these uses are accounted for in future range management plans and wildlife habitat decisions.

The membership reiterated their commitment to repealing EPA’s “waters of the U.S.” rule through litigation and legislation.

“Cattlemen and women from across the country gathered for lively discussion, from government regulations to animal health and food safety,” said Brunner. “Both the annual Summer Business Meeting and the Cattle Industry Convention provide a forum to share knowledge and renergize our industry as we work together to address the challenges that lay ahead. We look forward to continuing these discussions in Nashville in February.”



Iowa Cattlemen's Priorities now Part of NCBA's Policy Book

Cattle market volatility has been a concern for Iowa cattle producers, especially since the historic drop in fed cattle prices that occurred in October of 2015. Since that time, volunteer leaders from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association have been actively working toward solutions to the current issues in cattle marketing.

Many of those solutions became part of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) official policy during the annual Summer Business Meeting. The NCBA meeting took place in Denver July 13-16. Several Iowa Cattlemen’s Association leaders attended the meeting including Brad Kooima of Rock Valley, Mike Cline of Elgin, David Trowbridge of Tabor, Justine Rowe of Dallas Center, Ben Novak of Elberon and Ed Greiman of Garner.

One of the priorities for Iowa cattle producers was strengthening support for the Worthing, South Dakota delivery point. In March, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange proposed a $1.50/cwt discount on cattle delivered for the October 2017 cattle futures contract. ICA members feel that if this discount is added, the CME is setting a dangerous precedent for additional modifications, leading to confusion and distrust in the system.

Amendments to NCBA’s policy now include broader support for the delivery point process, including opposition to “any changes by the CME group that would adversely affect cattle feeders’ ability to deliver on Live Cattle contracts including, but not limited to, the discounting of deliveries to any delivery point.” The same policy, passed by the Cattle Marketing and International Trade committee, includes the resolution to “encourage and support the existence of numerous well-designed and efficient physical delivery points to which cattle may be delivered.”

Increasing price discovery in all major cattle feeding regions is another priority for Iowa Cattlemen’s Association members. Approximately 60% of Iowa’s fed cattle are marketed through cash negotiated transactions, creating a transparent price discovery process for the cattle in the region, because these prices are reported through USDA’s Mandatory Price Reports. In other major cattle feeding regions across the county, less than 10% of cattle are marketed through cash negotiated transactions.

Brad Kooima of Rock Valley represented Iowa’s cattle producers on this issue in NCBA’s Cattle Marketing and International Trade committee meeting. “I understand that change typically comes slowly, however, I was delighted that cattlemen realize that we cannot allow this trend of non-negotiated cattle to continue,” explained Kooima. The committee passed a resolution to “pursue market-driven initiatives that encourage and increase negotiated cash trade in all major cattle feeding regions.”

Other positive changes including dividing NCBA’s Cattle Marketing and International Trade committee into two separate committees and the creation of a staff position at NCBA dedicated to cattle marketing.



NCGA Action Teams, Committees Kick off Week with Deep Dive into Issues
   
Action teams and committees charged with in-depth analysis and consideration of the topics most relevant to corn farmers met in Washington as the initial phase of a full week of meetings held by the National Corn Growers Association.  These farmer-led teams discussed changing situations, and the possible ramifications of these changes, in areas including public policy, ethanol, biotechnology, government regulation, trade and grower services in anticipation of NCGA Corn Congress and visits to Capitol Hill scheduled later this week.

"Through a careful analysis of each issue, NCGA's action teams develop policies while maintaining the grassroots approach vital to the association's success," said NCGA President Chip Bowling. "These six smaller groups bring together grower-leaders from our member states to cultivate a deep knowledge of specialized areas and collaborate on solutions that help NCGA create opportunities and grow market demand for our members."

Many of the team meetings included presentations from special guests. In the Ethanol Committee meeting, senior leadership from the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association each addressed the team. Additionally, the group received updates on a wide array of market development efforts.

Each team delved into its respective issues with a full slate of presentations from association and affiliated organization staff, industry experts and agribusiness representatives.

In the Research and Business Development Action Team, members explored how to use open innovation to find new uses with Denys Resnick and Nick Kacsandi, both from Nine Sigma. In the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team, Ambassador Darci Vetter, Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, discussed the importance of the Trans Pacific Partnership to farmers and provided insight into how the Brexit will impact the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Action team and committee meetings conclude today, with Corn Congress convening early on Wednesday and running through Thursday late morning.  During this meeting, delegates will consider proposed policy changes and will elect leadership to the Corn Board for the 2017 fiscal year beginning October 1.



USDA NASS Begins Project to Gather Conservation Data Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting farmers and ranchers from now through September as part of a national survey of conservation practices.

During the first phase of the National Resources Inventory (NRI) – Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), NASS will contact approximately 25,000 farmers and ranchers nationwide to determine if their operations and properties meet eligibility criteria to participate in the survey. Farmers and ranchers deemed eligible may be contacted from November 2016 through February 2017 and asked to participate in the survey. The survey process and schedule used different set of operators and producers than last year. Within the Northern Plains Region (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) approximately 4,590 farmers and ranchers may be contacted.

“The survey gives farmers and ranchers the power to provide a more complete and accurate picture of the conservation practices they choose to use on their lands and in their operations,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer, Jr. “If contacted, I urge farmers and ranchers to participate; their responses can help leaders focus on the conservation practices that most benefit both the farmer and the natural resources on which we all rely.”

CEAP’s purpose is to measure the environmental benefits associated with implementation and installation of conservation practices on cultivated and non-cultivated agricultural lands, according to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the lead agency for the project. NASS conducts the survey for CEAP under a cooperative agreement with NRCS.

Data obtained from the project may help NRCS conservationists and partners determine the efficiency and effectiveness of current conservation techniques and help identify best practices. CEAP results may also help:
• Evaluate resources farmers and ranchers may need in the future to further protect soil, water, and habitat;
• Shed light on techniques farmers and ranchers use to conserve healthy agricultural systems and environments;
• Improve and strengthen technical and financial programs that help farmers and ranchers plan and install conservation measures on agricultural land; and
• Support conservation programs that can help farmers and ranchers’ profits while also protecting natural resources.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by Federal law. Participants’ responses cannot be used for the purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation (Title 7, U.S. Code, and CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347).



CWT Assists with 756,000 Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 7 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association who have contracts to sell 756,186 pounds (343 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from July through November 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 29.826 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 6.949 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 21.978 million pounds of whole milk powder to twenty-one countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 590.087 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Purchases of Organic Foods Grows to Nearly $35 Billion

U.S. organic food sales were an estimated $37 billion in 2015, according to the latest data from Nutrition Business Journal

Organic food products are still gaining ground in conventional supermarkets as well as natural foods markets, and organic sales accounted for about 5 percent of total U.S. food sales in 2015, according to industry estimates.

Although the annual growth rate for organic food sales fell from the double-digit range in 2009-10 as the U.S. economy slowed, growth rates since 2011 have rebounded to 10-12 percent, and are more than double the annual growth rate forecast for all food sales.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the top selling organic category, followed by dairy products.



Smithfield Launches Ingredient Glossary, Issues Food Safety Report
Stewart Leeth, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer

At Smithfield Foods, we’re dedicated to ensuring transparency and pioneering innovative, meaningful ways to better uphold this commitment. With this in mind, we are pleased to unveil a new ingredient glossary – the first resource of its kind provided by a pork processing company.

The ingredient glossary lists the name, definition and uses for ingredients used to make our packaged meat products. The online tool is easily accessible and easy to understand. With nearly 100 ingredients defined in the glossary to date, Smithfield’s goal is to continue building upon and updating this resource as necessary.

Simultaneously, Smithfield has also released the Food Safety & Quality section of its 2015 Sustainability & Financial Report. This section highlights new, healthier product offerings that provide enhanced nutritional benefits and simplified ingredients. In addition to product-focused initiatives, the section also provides:
-    New, industry-leading technology that improves food and employee safety at processing facilities.
-    Insight into Smithfield’s culture that empowers and places the responsibility for food safety of the shoulder of every employee.
-    Details about rigorous practices that ensure the company continues to maintain its Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification.

The Food Safety & Quality section marks the third installment of our 15th annual report, published over an eight-week period with the goal of further engaging stakeholders in the company’s robust sustainability program. In addition to this section, the previously released Animal Care and Environment sections are also now available. Following the Food Safety& Quality section, Smithfield will release the Helping Communities and People segments in succession. The full report will be available in mid-August.